When should I get concerned about DS

[WhenIsSpring]

DS1 is 14 and doesn’t have any signs of development or puberty besides a slow but steady growth in height (still small though). My partner (not his dad) said it might be best to go to the GP, although has said he doesn’t know what’s best. Don’t know what to do, he is a bit worried and down about it.

How do you know for sure?

I wouldn't worry about this at all. Some are late bloomers (known as delayed) between 16-18y. Wait til he gets to 16. Especially if otherwise he is well and in good health, has a good diet and/or breastfed as a baby.

Also, his dad may have been delayed as it can be hereditary.

HVPRN
What 9n earth has breast feeding to do with delayed puberty?

What does DS think about it?

My husband was slow to puberty so it was no surprise that our boy was the same.

At 15 both husband and son could have reported being way behind their peers in terms of height and pubescence.

By 21 they would report having caught up.

Neither is tall, but neither is short.

But here's a funny thing. Late puberty often relates to good looks in maturity. Something I read by someone cleverer than me.

Don’t be stupid. Formula feeding as a baby wouldn’t delay puberty.

Good question, there are studies and evidence to suggest the longer a boy (less so girls) breastfed as infants, the later onset of puberty.

• I suppose this would make sense considering cows milk is made for calves who need their milk for rapid growth (contains bigger protein) and we now know formula fed infants reach growth milestones quicker than breastfed infants.

@TeaKitten

Where did I mention formula fed babies leads to delayed puberty?

Looks like you were suggesting the opposite? Either way it’s stupid.

Makes sense, HVPRN. My brother was breast fed for 2 and a half yrs. He's in his forties and still hasn't reached puberty.

I wouldn't worry yet, OP.

😂😂 ..is this my sister typing? ;)

Personally I would go to the gp. Kids are hitting puberty earlier than in my day (around 11) he's about 4 years behind...at least he would have peace of mind

Oh and give him notes for pe etc

Nhs website says:

There's not usually any need to worry if puberty does not start around the average age, but it's a good idea to speak to your GP for advice if it starts before 8 or has not started by around 14.

In some cases, early puberty or delayed puberty could be a sign of an underlying condition that may need to be treated.

Best to go buy nhs advice in my opinion

I've been wondering the same about DS who is 13 and a half and has the same issues. Not sure whether or not to see GP or if this will make DS more self conscious

(Breastfed until 8 months interestingly)

Random data point: S1 breastfed until 30 months (exclusively for 4) voice dropped from treble to bass over the span of he reckons 3 days 3 weeks aged 12.

S2 breastfed for 30 months (exclusively for 6 - advice had changed) voice dropped over a much longer period and was being asked how he managed such a close shave (answer: not a shave at all ) when he was 16

I've been wondering the same re DS2 who is 13 and a bit (bf for 2 years if we think that matters). His older brother was younger when he began puberty (bf for 8 weeks) .

Is it solely a height thing or is it eg hair on underarms etc and voice?

My son showed very few (if any signs) of puberty before his 15th birthday. As I was a very late developer - I didn’t start periods until I was well past 15 - I assume it is genetic. He is totally fine and has grown about 6 inches in the last six month and at long last is rapidly catching his peers. The situation was exacerbated by his younger brother who is a school year younger clearly takes after their Dad and was more ‘normal’. at one point my younger son was about 6 inches and 10 kilos heavier.

If you are worried of course see a GP but I’d also think about family history before worrying too much.

My ds was small for his age, at 14 he started to develop pubic hair and stronger BO, but didn't grow until he was 14+10.

Now 15+3 he's grown FOUR inches since June. He's eating twice as much food as he was, his voice has broken, and he has baby fuzz on his chin 😀

What does your ds think? Does he want to go to the doc's or would he prefer to leave it a while? I'd leave it up to him, for now.

My son turned 15 in August this year and has very suddenly hit puberty. Much later than his friends, who all towered over him a year ago. He had no signs of puberty at the beginning of this year (no pubic hair, sorry if TMI). He's suddenly shot up in height in the last six months, and is sprouting hair and muscles everywhere. We can't get food into him fast enough right now!

I was also a late developer, and didn't get my first period until fifteen and a half. His dad hit puberty early, but he's obviously followed my side of the family.

Like you, I was a bit worried, and thought we may have to check in with our GP. However, once puberty hit, the changes were shockingly fast. He's grown around 3-4 inches so far this year, and is no longer the shortest in his school cohort.

When did you/his dad hit puberty? If late then it's likely he will be the same.

If he is 14 and no signs of puberty then I would ring GP and have a chat.

thanks everyone, I’ll try to answer the common questions here, I know he hasn’t hit puberty as he has no body hair, has a high pitch voice with no cracking yet and is rather short for his age.

I’m not sure about the correlation between late breastfeeding, but I breast fed until 7 months.

He is feeling a bit worried and down about it at the moment, he isn’t so much worried about his peers starting puberty (so he says) but he’s more worried that something isn’t working in his body. Equally though he is scared of going to a GP, but if that’s the best thing to do if nothing is happening, then I will take him.

I don’t know about his dad, but I was somewhat late to puberty so there could be a pattern from his genes. DS2 is only 10 so can’t compare

My DS (turned 14 in September) hasn’t shown any signs of puberty, though he’s growing a bit faster now. We saw the GP and she has referrred him to an endocrine specialist, who were seeing this month. It’s probably nothing, but I would check it out with the GP.

Bless him, how does your DS feel?